Not before time, David Cameron has put together a robust reply to Ed Miliband's attack on the Big Society. His opening come-back that, surely, everyone in the Commons wants to encourage people to play a bigger part in society was right. When Mr Miliband said he should listen to Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, Mr Cameron could have pointed out that he is less likely to listen to campaigners who served as elected Labour politicians (btw, it's worth recalling that the CSV she runs relies for 70pc of its funding on the state). When the Labour leader cited cuts in services, Mr Cameron again was right to point out that it is "politically motivated" Labour councils that are doing the cutting (in Liverpool's case the loss of grant funding it faces will take it back to where it was in 2009, he points out). Put it all together and you can see the plan: Labour is setting itself against the British belief in encouraging self-reliance and community activism, for party political purposes. It may be too late to shift the story away from 'Big Society in crisis' but at least it's a start.

Overall, a score draw. Ed Miliband had a good line about urging Mr Cameron against resorting to anger. "It will cloud his judgement. He's not the first Prime Minister I have said that to." Shame Gordon Brown wasn't there to hear it.